The United Nations is to launch an appeal for the victims of floods in Pakistan, which it warned could affect more people than the world’s last three great disasters combined. It said the toll could exceed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Two wikis have been set up to facilitate aid and donations for Pakistani victims. Please help, if you can.

3 thoughts on “International Disasters – some perspectives”

There are so many amazing and deeply moving images of this disaster that I struggled to choose one that represented the horror people must feel, especially as they watch their livelihoods (e.g. their cattle and fowl) drown in the muddy waters. I think the saddest picture, which I couldn’t find in picapp, was of a man swimming to safety with a chicken literally tied to his head.

This is also turning into a political disaster. Let’s hope the government is able to pull their act together and respond effectively in order to limit the ability of the Taliban to be perceived as the only group that can deliver aid and care. I heard one man say of the Taliban, “they helped us and if they ever need me, I will help them”. Great.